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10 Minutes Peace
by Susan McGrath
The other day my six-year-old came to me wanting a snack. I was in the middle of something and wanted to finish, so I said, "Could you wait a minute?'
With a very serious expression he said, "Yes. I'll count!" And off he went. I opened my mouth to reply and then decided not to. I laughed instead.
After thinking about it for a minute I wondered if I ever do the same thing to God. "Lord, could you please fix this and bless that. Amen." Do I then start the time clock for God to answer my prayers as soon as I open my eyes?
Although I try to be patient, especially when waiting for God to work in His time, I think I know where my son got his lack of patience -- his father, of course! Actually, I'm sure it was from me.
Sometimes I am ashamed of my thoughts as I pray about something for the second or third time and wonder why God hasn't taken care of it yet. I think patience must be one of the hardest and most important lessons we can learn in life. God listed it among the fruit of the Spirit for a reason. I believe a Christian who exhibits patience can truly begin to carry out God's will.
Being impatient doesn't seem like a big deal when you look at "the acts of the sinful nature" in Galatians 5 (the list just before the fruit of the Spirit), which include sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, hatred, discord, jealousy, selfish ambition, and dissensions to name a few. Hmm . . .a few of those last acts sound like they could stem from impatience.
When we lose patience we may also lose an opportunity to hear what God is telling us, or even miss the chance to be used for God's purpose. We have to remember that those little eyes are watching us tap the steering wheel and mutter as we wait for the light to change or the elderly driver in front of us to turn. And little ears are listening as we complain about waiting in line at Wal-Mart.
As mothers we are supposed to have an endless supply of patience, but when we run short we are in good company. Read about Sarah in Genesis 18 (or her husband in the chapter before) and Martha in Luke 10:38-41.
Take ten minutes today to list all the areas of your life where you need to be more patient and ask the Lord to help you acquire it. Then wait for it patiently!
Rate it:
a recovering journalist trying to encourage others and glorify God through writing;
living the small-town life with husband Tim and sons Lincoln, 12, and Sawyer, 6;
completing a few put-off writing projects while using chocolate for therapy.
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